CAIR-CA Annual Report (2015-2016)

a message from the chair

On behalf of CAIR California (CAIR-CA), thank you for your unwavering support in sustaining our advocacy efforts to promote justice, challenge hate, and create a more inclusive nation.

CAIR-CA continues to grow as a leading grassroots institution in the state – by protecting civil liberties, raising our community’s stature among policymakers and government agencies, and preparing tomorrow’s leaders.

As 2016 draws to a close, I am tremendously proud to share some of our major victories: efforts by CAIR-CA and its partners to push legislation, recently signed into law by Governor Brown, to protect our children from bullying in schools; a strong community-wide, interfaith pushback against hate rhetoric voiced by some politicians; and expanded services for immigrants and refugees.

However, frequent hate and discrimination incidents remind us of the necessity of CAIR-CA’s continuing work and your support in creating a more just and equal society. In November and December 2015 alone, American Muslims witnessed an alarming 34 attacks against our houses of worship nationwide. Moreover, the climate of anti-Muslim bigotry is being fueled by a multi-million dollar Islamophobic industry. According to our latest Islamophobia report, “Confronting Fear: Islamophobia and its Impact in the U.S. 2013-2015,” an inner core group of 33 organizations was funded by an astonishing $200 million-plus between 2008 and 2013.

However, with the blessings of Allah and your support, CAIR-CA will continue to work with both our community and partners to advance justice, challenge hate, and strengthen American Muslim engagement in the fabric of our nation.

On behalf of the CAIR-CA Board and the Executive Committees, I am thankful to our dedicated staff, interns, and volunteers who have given their time and energy to advance CAIR’s work. We are proud to serve you through our four offices in the Greater Los Angeles Area (CAIR-LA), Sacramento Valley (CAIR-SV), San Diego (CAIR-SD), and the San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA).